Course Description

The IEP offers courses that have a logical progression from the beginning to the intermediate to the advanced to the college preparatory level. The beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels focus on developing fundamental English skills. Coursework emphasizes skills that are necessary for developing effective written and oral communication. Instruction at this level covers the study of vocabulary, language structures, and essential elements in the development of the four language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). The College Preparatory level is expected to be comprised mainly of students seeking full admission to the university’s academic programs. In the college preparatory level, students continue to develop English language proficiency, with an emphasis on fluency and accuracy. Coursework at this level focuses on reading comprehension of academic texts, academic writing, and the development of critical reading and listening skills. It also targets the refinement of study skills and the development of critical thinking and research skills.

Beginning level courses

ESL0010 Reading and Vocabulary 1: Course emphasizes the acquisition of simple reading comprehension skills, expansion of receptive and productive vocabulary, and comprehension of short adapted reading selections. Vocabulary building focuses on word formation, determining meaning of words in context, usage rules and introduction to the use of basic prefixes and suffixes in the prediction of meaning. Reading exercises in this course focus on comprehension, vocabulary development, and study skills.

ESL0011 Grammar and Writing 1: Course emphasizes elementary competency in standard written English with a focus on basic grammar and writing skills. Grammatical proficiency is improved through the examination of major sentence patterns and grammatical forms. Writing exercises emphasize sentence structure, paragraph organization, and usage of formal English grammar.

ESL0012 Communications 1: This course emphasizes beginning conversation, pronunciation, and idiomatic skills along with basic listening comprehension. Conversational and idiomatic skills focus on fluent and appropriate use of common words and functional expressions in life skills areas - shopping, food, clothing, money/banking, car/license, travel, medicine. Pronunciation focuses on the articulation of English vowels and consonants and on the development of basic English patterns of stress and intonation. Listening stresses understanding verbal instructions and questions, common vocabulary and daily functions in an aural context, main ideas and details in monologues and dialogues. Practice exercises include group interaction, role-play, public speaking, and listening comprehension.

Intermediate level courses

ESL0020 Reading and Vocabulary 2: This course emphasizes the continued acquisition of reading skills needed for college level courses, expansion of high frequency to extensive vocabulary, and comprehension of medium-length adapted reading selections. Vocabulary building focuses on predicting meaning of vocabulary from context, use of contextual clues in identifying the relationship of ideas in factual writing, and expanded study of idioms, prefixes, suffixes and word roots. Reading exercises focus on comprehension, vocabulary development, and study skills.

ESL0021 Grammar and Writing 2: The class is an intermediate course in writing and grammar. It increases competency in standard written English with a focus on intermediate grammar and writing skills. It builds writing skills through authentic readings and a multi-drafting process approach to writing. Grammatical proficiency is improved through the examination of major sentence patterns and grammatical forms. Writing exercises emphasize sentence structure, paragraph organization, and the use of formal English grammar.

ESL 0022 Communications 2: This course develops intermediate conversation, pronunciation, and idiomatic and aural comprehension skills. Conversational and idiomatic skills focus on fluent and appropriate use of oral communication skills in a variety of social, business and/or academic situations. Pronunciation focuses on clearer articulation of English vowels and consonants and on increased control of the stress, intonation, and rhythm of English. Listening comprehension stresses the understanding of verbal instructions and questions on campus and in the workplace. Students continue to learn appropriate verbal and non-verbal behavior as well as conversation management techniques to exchange ideas in small and large group communication. Practice exercises include group interaction, role-play, debate, public speaking, and listening comprehension.

Advanced level courses

ESL0030 Reading and Vocabulary 3: Course emphasizes the acquisition of higher level reading skills, expansion of receptive and productive vocabulary, and comprehension of both adapted and authentic reading selections of varying lengths. The major focus is on determining meaning of a large stock of high frequency to extensive and academic vocabulary from context, word forms, and variation in tone; simple analysis of texts involving distinctions between fact and opinion; developing different reading strategies for a variety of texts, prediction and inference skills. Students determine the organization of texts, differentiate main ideas from supporting details, and make summaries/paraphrases of texts.

ESL0031 Grammar and Writing 3: Course is designed for those students who want to gain a better understanding of grammar and improve their ability to write clearly and purposefully. It increases competency in standard written English with a focus on advanced grammar and writing skills. Course builds writing skills through authentic readings and a multi-drafting process approach to writing in order to prepare students for academic work in English. Grammatical proficiency is improved through the examination of major sentence patterns and grammatical forms. Writing exercises review paragraph organization and focus on essay construction as well as the use of formal English grammar.

ESL0032 Communications 3: This course develops advanced conversation, pronunciation, idiomatic and aural comprehension skills. Conversational and idiomatic skills focus on increasingly fluent communication and interaction skills in complex speaking situations and comfortable use of English in a variety of situations, both academic and professional. Pronunciation focuses on improved clarity of speech and on increased control of the stress, intonation and rhythm of English. Listening comprehension stresses understanding complex syntax, register, nuance and tone in conversations on campus and in the workplace. Practice exercises include group interaction, role-play, debate, public speaking, and listening comprehension. Students will learn how to speak at length on a given topic, both prepared and extemporaneous, and to understand the subtleties of conversational English.

College Preparatory level courses

ESL0040 Academic Reading: This course is an advanced level English language course which focuses on developing cognitive academic language proficiency. It is suitable for language learners who want to prepare for academic study in American universities. It emphasizes the acquisition of higher level reading skills needed for college level courses, productive vocabulary, and comprehension of academic and authentic reading selections of varying lengths. The major focus is on analysis of text, the development of different reading strategies for a variety of academic texts of increasing length and complexity. The course also integrates the application listening skills, as well as learning strategies and study skills which will help students succeed in university studies.

ESL0041 Academic Writing and Advanced Grammar: This course is an advanced level English language course which focuses on developing cognitive academic language proficiency. It is suitable for language learners who want to prepare for academic study in American universities. It emphasizes competency in standard written English with a focus on developing paragraphs and essays in preparation for upper educational academic settings. Instruction includes an intensive study of phrases and dependent clauses, a review of parts of speech, spelling, punctuation and compound/complex sentence structure, as well as continued development of vocabulary, reading and academic skills necessary for success in college classes. The course also integrates the application speaking skills, as well as learning strategies and study skills which will help students succeed in university studies.

ESL0043 Research Skills and Research Paper Writing: The goal of this class is for students to confidently approach future research experiences and the writing of academic papers. The focus of the class is on the development of library and research skills (assessing research topics, conducting library research, and using online sources) and on writing research papers (note-taking techniques, incorporating and organizing material, drafting, revising, and using required citation formats). Students will practice writing academic papers across a wide range of content.

See more information about schedule, program calendar, and program highlights by downloading the IEP brochure.